James M.
Hollenbeck
1801-1901
JAMES HOLLENBECK
(son of Henry J. and Polly Anna (Allen) Hollenbeck)
b. 7 Oct. 1801 Middleburgh, Schoharie Co., NY bap. 1 Nov. 1801 Middleburgh Dutch Reformed Church, Middleburgh, NY
d. 3 July 1901 Erin, Chemung Co., NY, age 99y 8m 27d Buried - Red Chalk Cemetery located in the Town of Erin, Chemung Co., NY. (Also known as the Caywood or Hollenbeck Cemetery.)
Before his 21st birthday in 1821, JAMES HOLLENBECK married ELIZABETH SHOEMAKER, the dau. of Isaac and Mary (Swartwood) Shoemaker. She was born 20 Jan. 1803 VanEtten, Chemung Co. NY, and died 9 Feb. 1853, Town of Erin, Chemung Co., NY. Age 50y 20d. Buried - Red Chalk Cemetery. BETSEY HOLLENBECK was the mother of ten children.
JAMES HOLLENBECK was married a second time to SUSAN HOUCK HAYNES, dau. of David and Mary Houck. Susan was born 17 May 1826 New Jersey, and died 18 Mar. 1888 Erin, NY. Age 61y 10m ld. Buried - Scotchtown Cemetery, Chemung Co., NY. SUSIE HOLLENBECK was the mother of two HAYNES children and six HOLLENBECK children.
The 16 children of JAMES HOLLENBECK were born in the Town of Erin, Tioga (Chemung) Co., NY. (Chemung Co. was formed from Tioga Co. on March 29, 1836.)
First marriage:
+A-1 i. MARY ANN HOLLENBECK b. 12 Mar. 1822
+B-1 ii. ELEANOR JANE HOLLENBECK b. 1 Nov. 1824
+C-l iii. FRANCIS HOLLENBECK b. 21 Feb. 1827
+D-1 iv. HENRY HOLLENBECK b. 24 Mar. 1828
+E-l v. Girl HOLLENBECK b. 1830
+F-l vi. HAMILTON HOLLENBECK b. 27 Feb. 1832
+G-l vii. CHRISTIANA HOLLENBECK b. 18 May 1834
+H-l viii. ISAAC SHOEMAKER HOLLENBECK b. 10 Nov. 1836
+I-1 ix. ELI%A MARIAH HOLLENBECK b. 30 Aug. 1839
+J-1 x. CATHERINE E. HOLLENBECK b. 12 July 1842
Second marriage (bible record):
+K-1 xi. JOHN HOLLENBECK b. 17 June 1856
+L-1 xii. JAMES HOLLENBECK b. 9 Aug. 1858
+M-l xiii. POLLY HOLLENBECK b. 19 Aug. 1860
+N-l Xiv. ALICE HOLLENBECK b. 20 Aug. 1863
+0-1 xv. DOLLIE HOLLENBECK b. 4 Apr. 1866
+P-l xvi. GARRETT HOLLENBECK b. 2 Sept.1869
Haynes children:
+Q-1 i. EDWARD HAYNES b. 1847
+R-1 ii. MARY HAYNES b. 1854
Last Will and Testament of JAMES HOLLENBECK In the Name of God. Amen.
I, JAMES HOLLENBECK, of the Town of Erin, Chemung County and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last WILL AND TESTAMENT, that is to say:
FIRST - After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, 1 give and bequeath unto my daughters, CHRISTIANA COOPER, ELIZA M. HOLLENBECK and CATHARINE HOFFMAN, all that certain piece of Real Estate situate in the Town of Erin, Chemung County and State of New York known as the ERIN CENTER HOTEL lot containing about one acre of land more or less to be equally divided between them.
SECOND - I give and bequeath unto my daughters above named all my personal property of every kind and description after paying my Doctor bill and funeral expenses to be divided equally share and share alike.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine.
his
James X Hollenbeck
mark
The above instrument was subscribed by the said JAMES HOLLENBECK in our presence, and acknowledged by him to each of us; and he at the same time declared the above instrument, so subscribed, to be his last Will and Testament; and we, at his request, have signed our names as witnesses hereto, in his presence and in the presence of each other, and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.
/s/ JAMES H. RODBOURN, Erin, Chemung Co., N.Y.
/s/ CHARLES BAKER, Erin, Chemung Co., N.Y. April 20, 1899
The Biographical Record of Chemung County, New York, 1902
JAMES HOLLENBECK
At one time James Hollenbeck had the distinction of being the oldest man in Chemung county. He was a centenarian when called to his final rest. His life was active, useful and characterized by upright principles. A helpless old age did not precede his demise, for up to the time of his death he assisted in doing the lighter work of the farm and passed away as one who falls asleep at the end of the day’s labor. He lived during the administration of every president of the United States with the exception of George Washington and John Adams, and always took a deep interest in the up-building of his country and its progress along every line of advancement.
James Hollenbeck was born in Schoharie county October 7, 1800, and was a son of Henry Hollenbeck. His mother died early in the nineteenth century and in 1819 he accompanied his father to Chemung county, having previously acquired his education in the district schools of his native county. They proceeded over the hills and through valleys with horses and wagons, traveling over rough roads and through forests, where the wolves tormented the travelers by night and bears and other wild beasts by day. Here and there discouraging obstacles were encountered but they pressed onward, never for a moment hesitating until the beautiful Chemung valley was reached. When they arrived at Newtown they were advised to locate in Erin township. This advice was followed and their home was made at a place called Red Chalk. The first year or two was devoted mostly to clearing away the forest. The family lived in a log house in true pioneer style and James Hollenbeck assisted in developing and improving the farm. Soon after his arrival he met Elizabeth Shoemaker, who had come from Delaware county with her father in 1816, and before he reached his maturity he wedded that lady.
The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm and through an active and busy career Mr. Hollenbeck cleared nearly one thousand acres of land for himself besides aiding his neighbors in clearing their farms. As the years passed nine children were added to the home which they established and then the wife and mother died February 10, 1850. Three years later Mr. Hollenbeck wedded Mrs. Susan Haines, and they became the parents of six children. Of the fifteen, eleven are yet living, but the second wife, passed away about thirteen years ago. The children of the first marriage were: Mrs. Anna Allen, of Wisconsin, and Mrs. Westbrook, of' Erin, both now deceased; Henry, Francis and Hamilton, all of Erin ; Mrs. Christianna Cooper, of Wisconsin; Eliza, of Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Catherine Hoffman, of Jackson, Wisconsin. The surviving children of the second marriage are John and Gerritt, of Erin; Mrs. John Finch, who resides near Horseheads ; and Mrs. Alice Ogden, of Elmira Heights.
In many ways Mr. Hollenbeck was closely associated with the development progress and upbuilding of his county. He at one time took the census of the town of Erin and for twenty years was in charge of the mails. He was appointed postmaster of Erin in the early '50s by President Franklin Pierce. In those days the mail was carried on horseback and was received but once a week. He also conducted a grocery store and later was proprietor of the hotel which, in the last years of his life, he made his home He was a strong temperance man and never sold liquor in his place. When he opened his hotel he determined that if he could not prosper as a proprietor of a non-licensed house, he would not continue in business. He did prosper and harbored many guests in his time. In politics he was a stalwart Republican and took an active part in political controversies in his younger days. He was also a firm believer in the Presbyterian faith and when once asked concerning his religious convictions said, "Presbyterian by birth and that's how I'll die." He retained his mental faculties unimpaired to the last and also had the physical vigor of a man many years younger so that he assisted in the work of the home even during his last months upon earth. He traveled quite extensively through the country and when ninety-two years of age journeyed alone to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, to visit a daughter. His mind was rich in reminiscences concerning the early history of Chemung county, its notable people and the work of development and progress. He passed away in 1901 when more than one hundred years of age.
Return to Hollenbeck Genealogy